Throughout his time as an NBA ref from 1977 to 2016, he was one of the most recognizable and controversial officials in the game. While he always seemed unaffected by those perceptions, they privately bothered him, he said.
"I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother [me]. It bothered me. Yes, it did. But it's the job," he said. "When you walk out on the court, half are going to like you, half are going to hate you and you've just got to take that particular game, go out, call the plays, do it to the best of your ability and stay in shape. My father said, 'These guys, they know when you work hard and they'll look the other way if you're working hard.'"
ESPN
